re: Latest Updates: Russia-Ukraine Conflict

I think there is validity in Kotkin's argument that the industrial technology transfer from the U.S. to the Soviets in the 1930's played a greater role than actual wartime arms and supplies via Lend Lease, which is the common narrative.

Setting aside mechanical performance in what we provided and well known strategic German blunders, Soviet industry in World War II overwhelmed German output.

They manufactured 95K wartime tanks and self propelled artillery vs Germany's 54K. Some of that surplus being used in current conflict... lol. Combat aircraft was 108k to 79k.

Amongst other supplies, the U.S. Embassy puts U.S. tanks via Lend Lease at 13k.

If not for the corruption and general thievery, I've always thought that Russian industrial capacity was their strategic advantage over Ukraine.

ETA: I originally wasn't aware of pre-war American industrial influences on Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin. A generalized background at American Heritage.